October 09, 2018

Top Trump Super PAC Rolls Out Last-Minute Ad Backing Pete Sessions

America First Action is launching a new, multimillion-dollar television advertisement in support of Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, in his race against former NFL linebacker and Obama administration staffer Colin Allred.

The Washington Examiner exclusively obtained the video ahead of Wednesday's formal launch. The 30-second advertisement will officially hit broadcast and cable airwaves in Texas' 32nd Congressional District Wednesday morning and will run through Halloween. In total, the Washington Examiner learned that America First Action spent $2,111,240 to run the ad on broadcast and cable television.

In the video, America First Action paints Allred as an ally of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and a candidate who wants to join the ranks of progressive Democrats in their fight for "Medicare for all," a proposal that would expand the federal government's role in healthcare.

"Something is all wrong with Allred," the ad states. "Maybe it is because he supports Bernie Sanders' government-run healthcare scheme, which could take away your healthcare, costing us trillions."

The advertisement also points out the large amount of donations Allred has received from Pelosi, likening him to a "liberal" that is "all wrong for Texas."

America First Action PAC announced in late September that it was going to spend $1.5 million in support of Sessions. That announcement brought America First Action's spending total to $2.5 million.

The PAC is focused on electing candidates that are in line with Trump's "America First" agenda. They believe Sessions fits that mold and are committed to helping him keep his seat.

Republican strategists told the Washington Examiner in the wake of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's successful confirmation this week that his nomination (and the fallout during the process) will likely get Republican and conservative voters out in the midterms. America First Action also believes that theory and is trying to capitalize on it in Sessions' race.

"In the wake of the Kavanaugh saga, we believe Republicans are more fired up than ever to get out and vote on Election Day — to keep stalwart supporters of our president, like Rep. Sessions, in office," Erin Montgomery, communications director for America First Action, told the Washington Examiner.

The Trump-aligned super PAC announced in late August that it plans to invest $10 million in 10 House races in Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia. The PAC's affiliated nonprofit group, America First Policies, will spend $2.5 million supporting Republican candidates running for Senate in Missouri and North Dakota.